Titus urges House to pass FAIR BET Act to restore full gambling-loss deduction

The FAIR BET Act would reinstate the full federal deduction for gambling losses, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus told House leaders as Congress returned to work in the final weeks of its current session. Titus asked House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise to include the Fair Accounting for Income Realised from Betting Earnings Taxation Act in any major spending or must-pass legislation before lawmakers adjourn for the year.

What Titus is asking the House to do

Titus wants the House to advance the FAIR BET Act before the current congressional session ends. The proposal would reverse a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025, that capped the federal deduction for gambling losses at 90%. The FAIR BET Act would restore the previous 100% deduction.

The congresswoman first introduced the measure in July 2025, shortly after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act imposed the 90% cap. She renewed her push as lawmakers returned from recess in November 2026 and sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise asking that the FAIR BET Act be attached to any major package that must pass before adjournment.

Legislative progress and figures

The House Ways and Means Committee advanced a bipartisan tax package by 38 votes to 5 in September 2026, and that package will now go to the House floor. Titus has pursued multiple routes to secure reinstatement of the full deduction, including attempts to attach the FAIR BET Act to broader legislative packages.

Tax mechanics are straightforward under the current rules. Taxpayers may deduct only 90% of their gambling losses against winnings. For example, a taxpayer reporting US$100,000 in winnings and an equal US$100,000 in losses would still report US$10,000 in taxable income under the 90% cap. Under the prior system, the full deduction would have offset the winnings.

Titus's stated concerns

Titus has argued the deduction cap affects both professional gamblers and recreational players. She warned the tax treatment could push customers toward offshore gambling operators, where consumer protections and regulatory oversight may be weaker. She also raised concerns about potential impacts on the regulated gaming industry, including lower domestic tax revenues, reduced investment and job losses.

The FAIR BET Act is formally titled the Fair Accounting for Income Realised from Betting Earnings Taxation Act. Titus used that full name in correspondence with House leadership and in filings when she first introduced the bill in July 2025.

Next steps

With the Ways and Means package cleared by committee, the legislative path now runs through the House floor and potential inclusion in end-of-session spending legislation. Titus has requested inclusion in any major spending package or other must-pass bill before Congress adjourns for the year.